The ZYEP Basketball League’s 2025 season came to an end on May 16, and for many of this season’s 200 players, the final Friday game marked the end of an era. The league is open to Zuni youth ages 7-12, and the older children now are aging out of the popular program.
Tejal Albert, 12, is one of those players.
Born in Gallup, New Mexico, and raised in Zuni Pueblo by parents Carleton Albert Jr. and Felicia Burns, Tejal has been a basketball player for nearly half her life. According to her mother, she started playing in the ZYEP league as soon as she was eligible.
“We are going to miss ZYEP,” Felicia says. “She’s been playing since she was 7 years old. ZYEP has taught her the basics. She learned teamwork, communication and fundamentals while also learning commitment and finishing to the end.”
“I joined the league to make friends, have fun and learn how to play basketball — learning the basics, like dribbling,” Tejal says. “My favorite parts are getting to play ball and meeting new people!”
Now that she has mastered the fundamentals, the sixth-grader plays basketball at Zuni Middle School, and she plays in other leagues as well. In fact, she recently was named Most Valuable Player in her Gallup league.
Tejal has traveled as far as Las Vegas and Arizona to participate in basketball tournaments, and along the way, she has built meaningful relationships with coaches who have become cherished mentors. One coach, Jessica Chavez, has been particularly special, and Tejal says she is looking forward to playing with her this summer.
“She believed in me and helped me grow,” she explains. “She says, ‘Play hard, and don’t really think about it. You’ll be fine!’”
When she’s not busy playing ball, Tejal has a variety of other interests. She likes to draw and do schoolwork, and math is her favorite subject.
At ZYEP, she has joined the “Rooted in Healthy Traditions” after-school program and the annual flag football league. She says she loves these programs because she can play outside and meet even more new people.
This is a major highlight for many young players, since the leagues often draw children from different schools and different communities. During this year’s basketball league, ZYEP even welcomed players from Gallup, giving youth more opportunities to make friends with kids they wouldn’t normally meet.
Tejal says she loves ZYEP and thinks the youth project is an important part of her community.
“They teach a lot of things, like sports and arts and crafts,” she explains. “They help a lot of people.”
As she reflects on her six-season basketball career, Tejal says she wants to recognize two very important people in her life.
“My dad helped me learn how to play basketball and got me into it,” she says. “My mom bought me shoes and the other things I needed, and she always helped me get ready.”
She has one more shout-out. She says she wants everyone to know special her community is.
“Everyone helps each other,” she observes. “People are very nice here.”
